Movimiento Nacional

TheMovimientoNacionalwas established in Spain by General Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War in 1937 as the sole governing institution under Francoist rule, allowing participation only through approved entities like families, municipalities, and unions. It incorporated the Falange Española Tradicionalista party as its only legal political entity and the Organización Sindical Española trade union. Public officials were required to swear allegiance to its principles. Led by Franco as Jefe del Movimiento, with a Minister-Secretary General assisting him, the movement maintained a hierarchical structure down to local levels. Ideologically, it promoted Spanish unity and opposed regionalism, decentralization, and various external and internal enemies, including Marxism and Freemasonry. The movement was organized into four main factions: Falangists, Carlists, Monarchists (Alfonsines), and National Catholics, later joined by Technocrats. Franco balanced these groups to maintain control without showing favoritism. The Movimiento Nacional was abolished in 1977 after Franco's rule.